Today for the first time we witnessed the car running on the desert. After an early start we arrived at Al Jafr at 6.30am in time for breakfast. We assisted in loading the pit trailer prior to its trip to the desert. We were then teamed up with Ron Ayers to carry out Fodding checks in the critical first half mile of the cars run. In this area when the car is traveling at less than 100mph there is a greater chance of fod being ingested into the engines. We were amazed to find a lot of fod in this area. Extra help was provided by Mach 1 club members to carry out emergency fodding of the track right up the time of the first run.

(Yet more fodding! Photo: Jeremy Davey.)

This run took place at 4.00pm local time. The run was watched many including media, sponsors, Bedouin and of course Mach 1 Club members. From the pit station area the car could only be seen as a speck in the distance with a huge rooster tail of dust behind it. However as the car approached the 4 mile mark the car could be clearly seen. At about the pit area the parachutes were deployed and the car came to a halt close to the recovery crew.

Everyone around the pit area was relieved that the first run on the desert had been successful. At last we could begin to see the results of our labours and support. The car looks very much a world beater.

(SSC thunders across the desert - at last! Photo: Jeremy Davey.)

There is no disguising that there were some problems today. Some areas of the running lane required extra fodding which Mach 1 club members cleared. Thank you Ken, Brian, Bob, John and Neal. The firechase had a mechanical problem, which is now being investigated by Robbie Kraike back at the air base. There was also a problem with the track where it crosses a Bedouin road. This can be rectified by leveling the desert and adjusting suspension settings.

On the plus side the car has proved itself on the desert. The technical teams now have begun to collect the data they require to enable them to adjust the car to the conditions in the desert. We also now have a much better idea of how the car responds to the desert conditions.

We write this report from the desert pit station area which the centre of operations. A number of people are sleeping at the station tonight to maintain a 24 hour presence in the desert. We are assisted in this role by armed military guards from the Jordanian security forces. We look forward to seeing the car run again soon.

Neal & John

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